--- Andrew Gray shimgray@gmail.com wrote:
I think to a great degree this is a modern shift; it's becoming less and less vital for an organisation to have to be in a major city in order to function, especially an organisation which is simply a central point for a wide virtual network.
IIRC, something like 70% of communication is non-verbal. Being in close proximity to many like-minded organizations and representatives from other nations, would therefore be advantageous to our goal. You simply are not going to find that in St Pete.
As an organization, we have already found that we can accomplish a great deal more with face-to-face meetings that by using IRC, phones and email. Proximity will increase opportunities for communication and thus relationship building.
The savings in travel expenses combined with increasing the opportunities to establish strategic relationships (and funding opportunities) should more than offset the increased cost in rent and in cost in living increases for staff. Those costs can and should be mitigated for by avoiding actually having the office in a world city, but just outside it.
But that is a longer term strategy. Right now, I think we should try to make best use of our current location. Thus the need I expressed to sell St Petes / Tampas good points and take full advantage of that. However, I dont think it would be a good idea, in the long term, to keep the main office there (an office could continue to be there, just not the main one).
-- mav
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